Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of preinjury caregiver and family
functioning to community integration outcomes in persons with traumatic brain
injury (TBI). DESIGN: Inception cohort. SETTING: Three TBI Model Systems
inpatient rehabilitation facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Persons with TBI (N=141) and
their caregivers admitted to inpatient rehabilitation and followed up at 1 to 2
years after injury. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. Community Integration Questionnaire and the Social and Occupation scales of the
Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique. RESULTS: There were
significant interactions of several preinjury caregiver and family variables with
injury severity. For persons with complicated mild/moderate injury, better family
functioning was associated with greater home integration, and less caregiver
distress was associated with better social integration. For persons with severe
injuries, greater caregiver perceived social support was associated with better
outcomes in productivity and social integration. CONCLUSIONS: Preinjury caregiver
and family characteristics interact with injury severity to affect outcomes in
persons with injury. Research on outcomes should include measures of caregiver
and family functioning. Early interventions targeted toward decreasing caregiver
distress, increasing support, and improving family functioning may have a
positive impact on later outcomes.
CI - Copyright (c) 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS